[DECtalk] new to the list

Sun Feb 26 23:12:52 EST 2006

Hi,
I've been wondering about getting a broken Express fixed too.  We absolutely
love the DECtalk Express units, I think we have eight or nine of them.  One
broke a few years ago.  Our local repair man was unable to fix it.  He was
able to fix the long-standing problem with the battery or charging circuit
but not the problem that keeps the unit from working.
I also don't understand how Fonix could have lost the code.  If the only
copy is on a dead hard drive obviously they could send the drive in to a
data recovery company if they still have it, but those places are expensive.
I mean, with the move from Digital to Force and then from Force to Fonix,
you'd think somebody somewhere would have something laying around.  I have
the firmware version 4.2CD for the Express as well as the DECtalk PC drivers
which as I understand it actually contain the DECtalk code which is loaded
onto the board at startup.  And of course the 4.3 demo is available at the
archive.  I don't know how to disassemble the software, but bet the right
person who knew what they were doing could do it and create machine code
from which new equivalent source code for the lost versions could be
recreated.
Jayson.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brent Harding" <bharding at doorpi.net>
To: "DECtalk Discussions" <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 9:24 PM
Subject: Re: [DECtalk] new to the list

I wonder how hard it is to get a non-functional one fixed? I got an express
for free that someone sent me when I needed a new cable, they said I could
have it. Being able to have 2 working ones around could be a good thing
since I heard the USB models use the 5.0 sound that I don't like as well. I
just don't get how phonix could've lost the 4.4 code, I'm sure they could
get an idea if they had the hex files. I'm sure some programmer somewhere
could do something to help them get the old sound everyone wants back.

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Nick G
  To: DECtalk Discussions
  Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 6:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [DECtalk] new to the list

  Snoopy...
  For cryin' out loud, just release DECtalk 4.40 in a moddern program form
and I think You'll be fine for a long, long timee, no offence.
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Dectalk at aol.com
    To: dectalk at bluegrasspals.com
    Cc: corine.bickley at gallaudet.edu
    Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 5:01 PM
    Subject: Re: [DECtalk] new to the list

    Hi Missy!  I'm Snoopi and welcom to the list.  Oh it's so strange that
you want to try to program songs.  I'm releasing software hopefully on March
26 that teaches how to program songs.  It also teaches how to read music.
It comes with Dectalk, video illistrations, over 1000 pre-programmed files,
and much more.  I'm not trying to advertise, I'm just excited.  The project
has been a year behind due to bugs and I'm now on the home stretch of
getting it done and ready for orders.

    Anyway, welcome.  I um, have been on this list since 2004 but I forgot I
was on here until a week ago.  Then I discovered I wasn't getting the list.
So I kind of feel new myself even though I'm not.

    I work for both Fonix and Gallaudet University, so I have Dectalk
software coming out my ears!  I'm the Engineering Consultant, so I evaluate
all new changes in the software and I get to say what and how things should
sound.  It's a really fun job!  I've been working with Dectalk since 1989.

    You ask a good question.  People ask me if I use midi to program Dectalk
and I have no idea how that woukd be done myself.  So I was about to ask a
question kind of like yours, so I'm interested in the answers.

    I hope you enjoy this list.  I'm going to try and get people from
Gallaudet and Fonix to join this list because we actually have projects that
we could use feedback on.

    My Colleague Corine just signed onto a list called Acolug.  I'm on it
but hate it to death, so I'm hoping she'll join this list.

    Anyway, I guess we're the Dectalk geeks, so welcome.

    SNOOPI

    In a message dated 2/26/2006 1:06:44 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
melissah at fuse.net writes:
      Hi! My name is Missy, and I just joined this list.
      Currently, I have a computer running windows 98 SE and I use eloquence
and
      JFW for screen access. I've also got the dectalk software synth
installed,
      and I use cakewalke home studio 5.0 for playing around with midis. I
know
      my computer system is probably quite out of date, but I'm hoping to do
some
      upgrading when finances permit.
      Unfortunately, I'm not particularly musicly inclined; love to listen
to
      music, but can't really play anything.
      Anyway, to get somewhat back on topic, I've enjoyed listening to
singing
      synthesizers for a few new years now, but stumbled across this list
quite
      by accident while web browsing earlier this afternoon.
      I'm not sure if I have either the know-how or the proper technology to
      create singing files, but I'd love to try and learn a little about how
to
      go about doing so. Also, if anyone takes requests, how might I go
about
      making them, and would I be able to send a midi or mp3 of a song for
      reference?
      Well, I guess that's enough of an introduction for now. I hope
everyone is
      having an awesome day, and I look forward to participating on this
list as
      much as possible.
      Missy

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